Tag: romance

What is it about dukes that makes them so appealing to romance listeners?

Admit it—we’re fascinated with royalty. Just look at the commemorative plates/snowglobes/spoons your relatives scooped up to celebrate the marriage of William and Kate. In the British peerage, dukes are in the direct line of royal succession, and many ducal titles were originally created for the ruler’s siblings. In the Regency period (1811–1820), for example, a popular setting for historical romances, King George III’s progeny enjoyed the dukedoms of Cornwall, Rothesay, York, Albany, Clarence, Kent, Strathearn, Cumberland, Teviotdale, Sussex, and Cambridge, to name a few. For romance readers, dukes are the best of both worlds. They are figures of immense wealth and power (and, of course, they are handsome to boot), with the freedom to pursue outside interests—and maybe, in the world of romantic fantasy—to marry a commoner! Far from common, these six audiobooks about dukes will be a royal treat for listeners.

Ashford McNab creates a believable cast of characters spanning from the highest to the lowest members of society, with dangerous dealings with the “devil” in a gambling parlor. A recommended title for those who prefer their romances unabashedly feminist and a little mysterious. You can start the series with DUKE OF MY HEART or dive right into BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DUKE!

Narrator Justine Eyre’s voice is textured and full of emotion as she narrates the first in this Regenecy romance trilogy. Eyre gives each character a unique voice, from the determined-sounding Miranda Hodgkins to the deeper, more forceful tone of Sebastian Carlisle, the Duke of Trent.

Narrator Carolyn Morris draws listeners into the historical romance of Henry, Duke of Torquil, and Irene Deverill, a publisher who has printed provocative columns. Morris helps listeners envision the world of the aristocracy that the characters inhabit and leaves them rooting for Henry and Irene to overcome their differences to find love together.

The Duke of Montgomery, Valentine Napier, is uncertain in his love of Bridget Crumb, his housekeeper. Narrator Ashford McNab convinces listeners that the despicable duke has hidden depths and motivations to redeem him as he and Bridget join forces to deal with secrets in both of their lives.

Carmen Rose narrates heroine Poppy Fairchurch’s vulnerability and hero Struan Mackenzie’s no-nonsense temperament and virility in this historical romance. In Rose’s capable voice, the story, set in London and at the duke’s country home at Christmastime, is a satisfying romp.

Rosalyn Landor’s lovely British accent and engaging delivery provide the perfect pairing for this appealing historical romance. Handsome William Harrow is dubbed the “Killer Duke” after the apparent murder of his soon-to-be stepmother, young heiress Mara Lowe. If you love NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED, listen to the next in the series, NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER!

Do you have a favorite duke whose tales you love? What is it about dukes that keeps you coming back for more stories? Share your favorites with us in the comments!

This month’s hot picks are some of the most diverse, intriguing titles I’ve seen in a while . . . all gathered together! For romance lovers who like to delve deeply into exotic worldbuilding, these titles are unusual gems. Each title listed below has a brief description and a quote from the review as well as a link to the full review. Props to our awesome team of romance reviewers who selected and reviewed these titles.

It’s all about… Set on the Kentucky frontier in 1779, Colonel Cassius McLinn reluctantly welcomes a group of women to Fort Endeavor, becoming intrigued by Virginian Roxanna Rowan.Audiobook love: “Narrator Laura Jennings’s use of accents and pacing brings the various characters to life, moving deftly from the twang of the Kentucky soldiers to the pensive cadence of Roxanna and brusque Irish brogue of McLinn.”

It’s all about… Lady Pandora Ravenel prefers the board games she creates to society’s games, but her unwilling association with Lord St. Vincent involves high stakes for both of them.Audiobook love: “Mary Jane Wells perfectly captures Pandora’s naïveté, outspokenness, and frustration with a society that marginalizes women.”

It’s all about… Charlene Beckett impersonates her half-sister in her dealings with James, the dashing Duke of Harland.Audiobook love: “Beverley Crick’s upper-crust British accents are spot-on for Bell’s romance.”

It’s all about… Norman keep holder Amberlie accepts an arranged marriage to Saxon warrior Tedric of Woodrose.Audiobook love: “Narrator Elaine Claxton delivers both the sophisticated French accents of the Normans and the distinctly more plebian English accents of the Saxons.”

It’s all about… These Georgian romances full of villains and historical detail should not be missed.Audiobook love: “Alex Wyndham takes Brandt’s romantic suspense, set in England in the late 1700s, and creates a vocal tapestry of characters, from the highest nobility to the lowest of servants…”

It’s all about… Miranda leaves her family’s business to work for rival Connor Reeves. What will happen when he discovers her true identity?Audiobook love: “Carly Robins’s narration reflects the sensual charm and determination of publishing heiress Miranda Clayton.”

Here’s the hard part — choosing which one to listen to! (My advice — don’t limit yourself to just one!)

Want even more ideas? Visit our site to find more new romance audiobooks here!

There are two reasons to listen to this audiobook: Kirsten Potter and Scotland. In the interests of complete honesty, I would probably listen to almost any Scotland-set tale. It’s the most craggy, magical place to visit, and they like butter as much as I do. (I’m including a link to the absolute best shortbread – Stag Stornoway Shortbread – that you can only get in the Outer Hebrides. It’s worth the flight . . . and the ferry ride . . . trust me.) So take a cozy Scottish village setting and a second-chance-at-love story and add the memorable vocal stylings of narrator Kirsten Potter, and you get true listening pleasure. Did I mention it’s a series? I jumped in mid-series with this title and had no problem following along. I liked hearing hints about other characters and their stories, and I kept thinking it would be fun to go back and listen to the other stories.

In IT HAPPENED IN SCOTLAND, Rachel journeys to Scotland as a widow, bringing her daughter Hannah to meet her husband’s family, not realizing her old flame Brodie has also returned to the village of Gandiegow. Potter manages the intricate backstory of this contemporary, small-town saga with great aplomb. She incorporates Scottish terminology and accents into her character-driven voicings, differentiating Scots of various ages and temperaments, ensuring that each character is unique.